Thursday, July 31, 2008

Odd Texas Festivals

My blogging sister Annette wrote about her daughter and the annual Watermelon Thump in Luling Texas which got me to thinking, we have many festivals and events we take for granted which may seem odd to people from other states and countries.

A few are:

The Mosquito Festival
The Rattle Snake Round Up (Never been, never will attend)
The ELECTRA GOAT BBQ COOK-OFF
The Crepe Myrtle Festival (Maybe I could have one of these in my own yard.)
The Dove Festival
The Chappell Hill Lavender Festival (I may go to this one.)
The Hogeye Festival
The KOLACHE-KLOBASE FESTIVAL
The Poteet Strawberry Fest
The Pearsall Potato Fest
The BOIS D’ARC BASH
Prazka Pout
Delta County Chiggerfest & 5K Run/Walk
Czhilispiel XXXVI

I shudder thinking about the Rattlesnake Round Up and I itch thinking about the Chiggerfest.

I thought about how odd Christianity can look in the world today, how to many there is no relevance in the God of the Bible and no need for a Lord & Savior. Many think Christians are self-righteous and narrow minded which is the reason we really must walk in love. Genuine Christ like love speaks to people. Gossip and trash talk confirms what they already suspect about Christians. Taking an authentic stand for Jesus and not a legalistic diatribe speaks to people. Beating people over the head with the Bible does nothing for them except turn them off to the love of Jesus and His miraculous power to save, heal, and deliver.


Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Make sure you are feeding His sheep, feeding them genuine love which is a powerful testimony to His grace and mercy.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Weights of this World

I know I am yoked to Jesus my Lord and Savior, but some days it feels as if weights are loaded on my shoulder and I alone am carrying them. Of course that is a ridiculous thought. I feel weighed down with fatigue, I am literally weighed down because I am overweight, and occasionally I receive so many prayer requests for critically ill people that I am exhausted with warfare type prayer. However, all this being said, I am yoked to the Lord. As an Episcopalian for many decades I heard the following comfortable words each Sunday during church:

(I decided to go way way way back to the 1928 prayer book, because I found it online 1st.)


Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him.

COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. St. Matt. xi. 28.

So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John iii. 16.

Hear also what Saint Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i. 15.

Hear also what Saint John saith. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins. 1 St. John ii. 1, 2.

These are but a few reasons that we know God does not want us to carry the weight of the world around with us. He wants us to give it to Him and leave it with Him. Resist the temptation to pick it back up and lug it around with you. Even during the darkest times of our life, the Lord can and does restore us and revive us. The Holy Spirit will refresh us. To receive refreshing turn to the Lord and let Him be the Lord. The bumper sticker says: Let Go and Let God.

Ask for a spiritual, mental, and or physical refreshing whenever you need it. He's a generous God just waiting to bless you.

Now I am going way back in time and thinking of all the years I acknowledged and bewailed my manifold sins each Sunday before Communion...I think I will find my 1928 prayer book and flip through it, I probably remember most of the liturgy as we were in church almost every Sunday when I was growing up as well as in chapel each school day.

Remember you are yoked to Jesus, He makes the burden light. Most importantly, remember He loves you!

Monday, July 28, 2008

The Chair

The Chair not to be confused with the old George Strait song that was popular when my husband and I frequented bars and went dancing every weekend in the early 1980's, but the hospital chair. What is it with hospitals and the chair they have for visitors to sit in??? (My jr high English teacher is fanning herself because I ended a sentence with a preposition.)

I woke up this morning fairly refreshed, but as I stood up I realized my body still feels as if it is in the sitting position and not any sitting position, but the position from the chair in dad's room. He has been in 5 hospital facilities this year, each room has a chair, they may not look alike, but they feel alike.

I think we sometimes feel stuck in a position regarding sin. We repent and truly repent, we are forgiven, but we still feel like we are in the middle of the sin. Stuck in that position. Just as satan wants us, feeling like dirt, not living as forgiven, blood bought, children of the Most High God.

Intellectually we know we are forgiven, but you are not feeling it yet (that's why we don't rely on feelings.) meditate on Scriptures to build up your faith. Here are a few of my favorites:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

One of Dad's Favorites

My father is doing much better, still confused because of morphine...he asked them not to give it to him on Thursday night, the dr said dad's pain level was too high and he wanted dad to rest and have relief from pain. The men in my dad's family all have a thing about taking narcotics (I will now admit I asked for a non narcotic pain reliever after surgery and only took 2 out of 90 pills.) and any medication which might be addictive.

We still have great hope he will be home Tuesday or Wednesday.

I am posting one of dad's favorite songs as a link because for some reason I cannot get it to post as a regular video. I would like to say Youtube is having technical difficulties, but I think I am the one with the problem.

Join me in singing...How Great Is Our God...

Thanks to all of ya'll who have held us up in prayer, know we worship with you in our hearts tomorrow.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Charles aka Dad - Update

Saturday afternoon, he is resting comfortably, still a little confused as to what year it is due to the medication. Apparently fluid build up had a lot to do with the collapse and respiratory distress yesterday. My mother is doing pretty well. We are grateful dad is receiving excellent care in Richmond and has not had to be transferred to St Luke's. We are also grateful for the prayers! May the Lord bless each one of you who has ever uttered a prayer for us.


Saturday morning...He's stable and not so confused this morning. The hospital is full and as a result he had a roommate Thurs and Fri, the man was 90 and deaf so he was loud, couldn't help it. The dr decided dad needed quiet and moved him to a room on the cardiac floor. He rested much better.


6:45pm Update - He is better, a little loopy from medication. The battle was one the minute 1 precious drop of our Lord and Savior's blood was shed!


He had a sudden downturn moments ago, if you read this and have time please pray. He is in respiratory distress and his heartbeat is good but not great.

Difference Between Day & Night

Last night my father had a terrible night due to reaction to medication. This morning he had a dramatic turn around. He can drink water now and begin eating soft food later today. he should be released from the hospital on Monday or Tuesday.

I thank our Heavenly Father. If you are so inclined join me in praising Him!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

What a Day!

Yesterday, I thought of the song - This is the day, this is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it, rejoice and be glad in it several times yesterday.

My father has an obstructed bowel and was taken to the local hospital. They determined there was no perforation. (This is similar to why I took him to the ER in January and he was not home again until May.) He remains in our local hospital, the doctor thinks he can be treated without surgery. We are praying. Again I say rejoice, easy to say but sometimes hard to do.

I was so staggered by this yesterday and so deflated, I found at times I could barely pray and I could not think. I didn't even watch all the live, team coverage of hurricane Dolly on the news through out the day and roll my eyes at the reporters and their antics. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Dad is in great spirits, wants to be healed without surgery, preferably today by the merciful hand of God. He wants to go home and do his exercises. He wants to be back at church, attending Lions Club meetings, and doing volunteer work. How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God.

Our God is so great...

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

I am rejoicing, this is the day the Lord has made, He is great, time is in His hands, Hallelujah He reigns!!!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Rain & Pro 9

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain, compliments of hurricane Dolly. It's a wonderful sound. I will check the news and see when and where landfall is expected. Pray for the people in her path, even though it's a small storm, flooding and tornadoes can be a problem.

As I listened to the rain, I was impressed to read Proverbs 9 over and over until I got up and read it. I will mediate on it more this morning before work. I definitely want to accept wisdom's invitation and decline folly's. Here are the 1st few verses from Pro 9:


1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.
4 "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.
5 "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Answered Prayers

I think the Lord answers so many prayers and we are not aware of it. We may have moved on to the next prayer. Sometimes it's only when a biggie is answered, we are still and think wow - He answered this prayer and this prayer - wow, I didn't even realized this one was answered.

On the other side of the scale we may think He never answers prayer. We think about our child dying or the death of a spouse or friend, the loss of a job, etc.

I personally think God answers all prayer and to put it simply - the answer is yes, no, or wait.

A few weeks ago, I posted a prayer to pray against drug cartels and their destruction in Mexico. Saturday I was reading the newspaper and there was an article about the Mexican Navy arresting the crew of a submarine headed toward Mexico. The submarine was loaded with cocaine which was to be distributed through out the USA via Mexico. 2000 people have been killed this year in Mexico due to warfare between the cartels in Mexico. Most of the 2000 people are involved in the drug trade, but not all of them.

Out of those 2000, it's safe to say most of them never knew Jesus or His Father. I will keep praying especially as the violence spills over into the US. There are cities in Texas and AZ which are dangerous due to the drug trade. It's spreading like a cancer.

I will keep praying in faith because I know our Heavenly Father wants all people saved. He does not want to lose even 1 person. We may be the only people praying for the cartel members.

In Luke 15, we find these words Jesus spoke:

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Monday

I am feeling very well today, will be back at work. I read more of The Shack. I am on page 170. Maybe I can finish it today. I think I read Adolf Hitler Volumes I & II quicker than I have read 170 pages of The Shack. Have a blessed day. I will post something tomorrow. Be blessed with Psalm 103:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Friday, July 18, 2008

The Shack

I am reading The Shack, I have read about 150 pages. I have been told "everyone" is reading it and it is a 21st Century Pilgrim's Progress and I will simply love The Shack. Pilgrim's Progress was my 5th grade reader, I read it...from Sept 1971 to May 1972 and remember little of it. I am not sure what I think of The Shack. I was too tired to read today, I was sick in bed all day and did very little. 2nd time this year I have been sick. Prayed a lot in the wee hours of the morning, so I was productive as I was being sick.

My husband hired a yard man to help me next week, I am excited about it, though I generally like to do yard work, the heat has gotten me this year a couple of times. I guess because I was indoors most of winter and all of spring visiting my dad in the hospital, I just never acclimated to the heat this year. My dad is having the same problem with the heat. He loves to sit on his patio and read in the mornings but has not done that this year. I think by fall, he'll be up to it. I am already thinking of fall and planting pansies, petunias, lobelia, snapdragons as well as spinach, lettuce and broccoli. I am also looking forward to fall Bible Study, though we haven't picked the study, yet.

I just checked one of my former student's blog, she is pregnant. She has a poll on her blog to guess the sex of her baby. I voted for a girl only because I would love to see Andi have a daughter who is a ballet dancer like her mother. Andi was a great student. I am so glad the Lord put her back in my life as well as Steph. I loved teaching Andi and Steph and I love knowing them as adults.

I suppose I have rambled on enough tonight. Time to be brave and drink a glass of water. I think I will try to read a little too. Have a great Sat. and a blessed Sabbath. Be blessed with these words from the Book of Revelation:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Barking Dogs & Alarm Clocks

I was up earlier than normal this morning thanks to a neighbor's barking dog. She (the dog not the neighbor) is still at it 1 1/2 hours later. I wonder if my neighbors are out of town, their dog rarely barks. She (again the dog) may have treed a squirrel or possum. As a result of the barking, I did not have to rely on the alarm going off at 5:15a.m. I was up earlier and have spent some time in the Word and will be in prayer shortly.

A thought crossed my mind this morning as I was pouring a cup of coffee. When we realize the freedom we have in Christ and that we are yoked to Him, it makes it easier to toss idols out of our lives but not necessarily to keep them out of our lives. Galations 5 says: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselfs be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. This tells me that satan will most likely wait a while and then try the same old thing again to entrap us and make us miserable. Like a former smoker who listens to the whispers of satan and decides she can smoke just 1 cigarette and before she knows it, she has to begin the process of quitting all over again. We know he roams the earth like a devouring lion looking for prey which is us. If he can't get us with new stuff, he'll go back to the old.

Sisters we know the Lord is more powerful than anything the father of lies can throw at us, we need to wear are armor and keep our minds renewed in the Word of God. Romans 12 says:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Time for prayer. I pray we serve the Lord with a cheerful heart today.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Procrastination

It's Wed. and I have put off going to the Galleria until tomorrow, after all tomorrow is another day. That is my best Scarlett O'Hara imitation. I procrastinate occasionally and am usually sorry I did after it's all said and done.

I got to thinking about what if Christ procrastinated. What if He told people, well I am not tuned into my Father for healing today, come back tomorrow. Prayer - I'll do it tomorrow, I think I will do a little recreational fishing instead today. It's hard to pray and be in the Word daily, but I think it's harder not to be in the long run. The Bible says to be an imitator of Christ. No matter how busy He was while on earth, He sought out His Father daily.

I pray daily, but it's not the quality prayer life I have had before and I want again. It means setting the alarm a little earlier and getting out of bed when it goes off in the morning. It means reading the newspaper at lunch. And it means - listening to God, not just talking to Him.

So let me encourage you today, stay in the Word and be in prayer. God loves you so much, you are the apple of His eye. I am going to get ready for work. May you all have a blessed day.

Monday, July 14, 2008

The Rock

Well we have arrived at another Monday, I am not sure I am ready for another work week, but it does not really matter because it is here.

I am looking forward to Bible Study tomorrow night. I am not looking forward to taking my father’s watch to the shop for repairs Wed. or Thurs. I have to go to the Galleria in Houston. I have a few basic problems with the Galleria:

Traffic

I will walk by the Gucci Store (and then I will think of all the money I used to spend in there and at the NYC store on purses and luggage when I was loaded in my 20’s).

Since I am at the Galleria I will stop and buy foundation and might fall for whatever spot or wrinkle cream they suggest for people my age. Usually I have sales resistance, but it’s hard at the cosmetics counter under those lights!

I will leave the Galleria and resist the Container Store as I flee it at 3 mph in traffic (I always want items from this particular store).

The Bible tells us if we resist the devil he will flee. He assaults us so often, I wonder if we recognize the victories we have or just see our “failures”? What do you think?

Psalm 40: 1-3 tells us:


I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Remember our feet are shod in peace, we stand on the Rock which is a firm foundation, praise the Lord today. Trust Him and revere Him. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Happy Saturday!

I am trying to work my nerve up to go for a walk. I really blew the healthy eating Thursday and Friday. I will be back on track today. My husband is in Matagorda working at the little RV park we own this weekend, I am home contemplating - should I clean out a closet or 2 or should I clean out some of our kitchen cabinets. I don't know what happened, but we suddenly have a lot of stuff! If we feed our soul and spirit a lot of the things this world has to offer, we will be filled with junk. We are what we eat - spiritually and physically. Let's make sure the fallow ground has been plowed up and we are good soil feeding on what is good in the Lord's sight.

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Delight

I talked to my aunt yesterday; it was wonderful to speak with her. She lives England. I really miss seeing her in person, but e-mail is better than nothing! I told her I would post a picture of her taken at work, it’s awful. Her grandson took it, something is wrong with the colour. Her hair looks really yellow. She said my hair is not that colour, I said I know because no one would pay money for that colour. So I will be nice and not post the picture, but you can find it on www.c4w.org, she is an elder of the church, Ginny Reid. My cousin Virginia and her husband Robert pastor the church. It’s a wonderful church. I just listened to Robert’s latest Sunday morning sermon, he talked about what our homes are supposed to be.

If you are doing the No Other Gods study, have you been convicted by what you let in your home because of any false god which may be in your life? We talked about what we let into our homes via the TV and secular music during Bible study the other night.

We must be careful and watch what we feed our souls via the TV, music, games, reading etc. I watch a show on A & E that is not Christian in the least called The Sopranos, it’s so life like, well acted blah blah blah but it is violent. I have weeded out the sitcoms with sexual innuendos, but do I really need to watch The Sopranos? TV is not all bad, but it can become an idol quickly and fill our time and keep us from thinking and spending time in the Word and with the Lord.

The Bible says:

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I believe when we delight ourselves in the Lord, our heart is transformed and our desires become more pure. I find myself in tears some days as I do the NOG’s Study, I am also very humbled when I look at the idolatry I have allowed full access into my life. But I praise Jesus, because through Him I repent and am reconciled to my Abba Father.

Delight yourself in the Lord today!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

100 Things

1. I was born in Houston, TX
2. I am American by birth, Texan by the grace of God.
3. Annette is my middle name
4. I am an only child
5. I have lived in the greater Houston area my entire life.
6. I love dogs.
7. I hate to cook.
8. I began taking ballet lessons at 3.
9. I graduated in 1979 from St Thomas’ Episcopal School, still have many friends from those days.
10. My father was a policeman. My mother was a nurse. They met in the ER.
11. M cousin Wayne & I spent much time conspiring against the other cousins.
12. I have come to really love blogging.
13. I will meet many of my Siestas on golden streets one day.
14. I am presently fat, but will be thin again.
15. I would love to have a massage.
16. My husband & I met in 1981 and married in 1985.
17. I miss working for my father’s company, we worked hard, but had a great working atmosphere.
18. I love classical music and ballet.
19. I love Texas Aggie football.
20. Sometimes I love the Astros.
21. I love rodeo. (I know that freaks people out)
22. I love having Bible Study in my home.
23. I have not seen many people in person this year due to dad’s illness.
24. I am a prayer minister at several healing conferences through out the year.
25. I would love to work a 4 day week.
26. I hate to cook.
27. I tend to withdraw from people who lie to me, even family members.
28. I don't like Las Vegas.
29. I would not mind being in South Fork or Creede CO. today.
30. I look forward to finding a new church.
31. I am getting tired about talking about myself.
32. I spent a lot of time in high school dreaming about skipping classes.
33. I never learned to play an instrument.
34. I spent hours in the ballet studio over the years, dancing, teaching, choreographing. 3
5. I wish we still had a pool.
36. I love to watch birds.
37. I love to watch wildlife if I don’t have to climb rugged terrain to view it.
38. I need my sleep.
39. I love eating at Larry’s with Patty.
40. I am grateful for the friends God has brought in my life!
41. I don’t like it when parents think it’s cute to let their children run around fancy restaurants while waiters try to dodge them.
42. I love praise and worship.
43. I don’t like stuffy sermons.
44. I cannot sew.
45. I love to spend a lot of time driving in my car.
46. I would love to have a weekend place near Industry, TX
47. I hate to cook.
48. I get stressed out seeing a sister in law.
49. Due to my father’s illness, I took a part time job and have scaled down my business due to lack of time for extensive bookkeeping and all the paper work.
50. I want to learn to knit.
51 I love Lucille Ball.
52. When I taught ballet, I was very attached to my students.
53. My 1st car was a 1977 Chevette, 0 – 55 mph in 10 minutes.
54. I traveled to Poland in 1975 with a ballet company, visited a concentration camp, brought WWII into perspective for me even though I was barely 14.
55. I hate to shop.
56. I love to read.
57. I like yard work.
58. I don’t mind shopping for plants and flowers.
59. I don’t like being around drunks, no tolerance for them.
60. I loved dressing up as a child and wearing crowns, tiaras, falls, and wigs.
61. I once dated my dance partner. (Don’t recommend it, too much time together.)
62. I used to be a control freak.
63. I hate to cook.
64. I love to travel, but now prefer driving trips due to airport hassles.
65. I have 5 godchildren.
66. I used to surf. (If I could pay someone to paddle the board out for me, I might give it a try again.)
65. I had a little sailboat growing up.
66. I used to fish a lot, now I dislike fishing.
67. In the 1970’s my hair was about 3 feet long.
68. I have too much junk in my house, not sure how it happened.
69. I loved running errands with my dad when I was young.
70. I talked my great grandmother into doing a summersault when I was 4, she must have been 67 at the time. Afterwards she sat on the ground for a while and laughed.
71. My mother freaked out when I asked our maid why her skin was brown and mine was pink.
72. I was sent to the headmaster frequently for cracking 1 liners during class.
73. See above, I was the classroom comedienne.
74. I taught Sunday School for years then began to lead women’s classes.
75. During my 20’s, I received many speeding tickets. I wish we had an autobahn.
76. I love to attend the Indianapolis 500.
77. I hate to cook.
78. I still love John Wayne movies.
79. I wish I was still fluent in French.
80. I have never had a garage sale, though I should now.
81. The asparagus fern lives.
82. I love to spend time with friends and some but not all family members.
83. I am tired of politicians.
84. I usually think criminal’s sentences are too light.
85. I love dumb criminal stories.
86. I prefer sunsets to sunrises.
87. I wasted a lot of time reading trashy romances in my teens and 20’s.
88. I hate to cook.
89. I love to decorate for Christmas, before Christmas Vacation, I once bought a tree bigger than the Griswold’s. My husband was appalled.
90. I am very opinionated.
91. I am honest, people either like me a lot or cannot stand to be around me.
92. I am compassionate.
93. I am tired of talking about myself.
94. I am distressed about this weekend’s weather forecast. HOT HOT HOT
95. I have great neighbors.
96. I had a horned toad Lady as a pet at my great grandmother’s, it lived on her front porch for years. It could come and go from it’s home at will.
97. I will call my aunt in England today.
98. I love our Lord Jesus.
99. I pray I serve our Father today.
100. I hate to cook.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

20/20 Vision

Sadly, I am at the age in which I need reading glasses. I picked some up at Target the other day. A 3 pack, economical way to buy them. I put a pair on, looked at the book and thought whoa…I cannot see well. My vision is a little blurry. So I switched to an old pair which is bent, because my dog Midnight slept on them the other night. I fell asleep reading and removed them at some point and placed them on the bed and she curled up right on top of them. Today I tried out 1 of the new pairs, still quite blurry, I looked at them again and realized there were plastic stickers on the lens to keep them from becoming scratched in the package.

When we look at the people or situations without the eyes of Jesus; our vision is blurry. When we read the Bible without the help of the Holy Spirit, our vision is blurry. We want perfect vision; we want the eyes of Jesus which is the Holy Spirit. We want to see people with His eyes; we want to read the Word with His eyes.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

You might say the Holy Spirit gives us 20/20 vision. Again today I say go out and be a walking testimony showing the love of God to all people. Even the slow people in the fast lane, or those people with 45 items in the express lane at the grocery store. Jesus died for them too…

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Ethics

Do you have good ethics in all areas of your life or have you let some things slide? I know I had a bad situation with a business partner who is a Christian. Because of my fear which is a sin and the fact he is Christian, I let it go on too long and it really came back to slap me in the face last Thursday afternoon. The Lord worked out a big part of the problem for me Monday afternoon. I still need wisdom and clarity on what to do with the rest of it.

I know my husband is frequently asked by Christians for a reduced rate or to cut costs and not do a job to code which is not a good Christian witness.

25 years ago, I worked with someone who felt justified in taking all kinds of office supplies home because he thought he deserved more pay, though he had agreed to his salary.

I know someone who for years routinely wore nice clothes to an event and returned them. Somehow she returned a rabbit fur coat worn by child A for a year; and then her child B when child A outgrew it. Since she bought it, she returned it after her child outgrew it. The coat had been worn for 2 winter seasons and someone bought it as new at a store in the Galleria. The woman would disagree to this day she did anything unethical.

We have seen what happens in ministries when someone crosses the line once with something little and then crosses it big times. Remember PTL? Many of the unsaved remember it today and as a result denounce all television ministries.

There are all kinds of examples out there of Christians not acting in an ethical manner. Unsaved people are watching. How does that type of behavior speak to them? The Lord just gave me this, so I am adding to the post. The unsaved watch Christians gossip and carry on ungodly conversations. Please ask the Lord to convict you if you need a good mouthwash! The unsaved also watch when Christians laugh at coarse remarks or jokes and when they repeat off colour jokes. Again, ask the Lord to convict you in these areas. Telling a risque joke or making an off colour remark is not being the light Jesus has called us to be.

We must be on guard at all times to be honest and ethical. As my blogging sister Connie says, we might be the only Bible someone sees today. We must be the salt and the light. We do not conform to the things of the world; we take Jesus to the world. Ask the Holy Spirit where you have let “Babylon” creep in, where are you conforming to the world instead of the Lord.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
So go out today, serve the Lord and be a light for the world to see.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Fireworks, A Rainbow & A Painted Bunting

I went to our beach shack Friday to celebrate the 4th of July. It is a shack on stilts. My husband bought it because his 80 yr old aunt lived next door at the time and needed some help around the house and yard. She is almost 90 now and he is her legal guardian. I don't go down there too often during the summer, I no longer go out in the Gulf of Mexico to fish (too old for the that much sun) and it has become a fishing frat house on the weekends. Men sleeping all over the place between the day fishing in boats and kayaks and the night fishing in the surf or from our pier.



I prayed on the way down there for the night to be pleasant and that people at the celebration would not drink too much. Since I was not there on Thursday, I was voted head of pyrotechnics. All this means is I had a large lighter (those things for fireplaces) and lit lots of fuses. I lit big fireworks which rivaled the display put on by the town at the harbour. Our show lasted longer too. My brother in law owns several firework stands; he gave us a great deal. Several people pitched in for the band and fireworks which made for a very nice evening. It was fun seeing children running around with Morning Glories (similar to sparklers but safer) and grandmothers dancing with grandsons and little girls dancing with each other so they would not get kooties.


Just before sunset, I prayed again as people were beginning to drink (I am not anti alcohol, I am anti drunk.), and suddenly there was a 1/2 a rainbow over us. I prayed more, a cloud moved and we could see the entire arch of the rainbow. It looked like it ended near our house. It was such a blessing. Only 1 drunk out of 60 people at a party. That's answered prayer!

This morning as my husband and I sat outside drinking coffee before everyone in the house was awake, I looked down and there was a male painted bunting. I began to weep. He hopped around for 20 minutes or so. As some of you know, I prayed to see a Painted Bunting and the Lord sent a female to my yard, and I told Him I wanted to see a male and He said, "Annette you did not ask to see a male Painted Bunting." (Painted Bunting and Prayer)So again, I say be specific when you pray. God is thrilled to answer us and delight us.

His Word says: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Pray specifically and do not give up!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

July 4th

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the freedom we have in America to worship You. I pray Americans do not take freedom for granted as our liberties are slowly eroding. I pray my country returns to You, we invite You into the courts and schools.

I thank You for the natural resources You have given us. I pray we our good stewards of all you have given us as well as good stewards of the environment.

Lord, I pray for revival - true revival even bigger than the Wales and the Azusa Street revival to come to America. I pray sports stadiums will be filled with people worshiping You.

I praise You and thank You that I can freely proclaim Your Son's name.

Please continue to protect our country and interests from another terror attack Please protect our allies as well. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Off Day

Ever had a day you just didn't feel quite right? I had a day like that a few weeks ago. My clothes did not even fit right. Of course after I had time to go to the ladies room about 10:30am I discovered my pants were on backwards. (I had dressed in the dark so my husband could sleep because I was going to the office earlier than normal.) This can happen with side zipper pants and elastic waist pants...If it happens with front zipper pants, call your pastor, you need help. Just kidding.

It was pitch black this morning as I was going out to feed the birds, my feet felt weird, I looked down I had on a shoe from each pair of my house shoes. What are the odds, I walk to my closet and in the dark, find the pink right shoe and the left grey shoe?

I think our Christian walk can be like wearing mismatched shoes. We want to grow in the Lord and truly serve Him with our whole heart, but cares of the world and or idols are calling. Some cares call loudly in the form of a toddler, idols are more insidious, whispering our name until we have opened the door wide and have a full blown idol in our life. Or maybe we are crippled by fear or the side of effects of idolatry. As I mentioned yesterday, if you are not doing the No Other Gods study, (and if you are) ask the Lord to convict you of any idolatry you have in your life. You may idolize a person and not even realize it which could lead to other sins such as envy, coveting their home, or life style. Satan doesn't stop when you let him in the door with idolatry, other sins begin to walk in the door when the idol is in your house. For example in my case, food became an idol somewhere along the way and as a result I am 50 lbs overweight. I am now working on losing the excess weight.

Stand firm on the Word and your covenant promises, don't look back at the idol (think pillar of salt) keep your eyes on Jesus. The Bible says:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Have a blessed day. I am going to change a shoe.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

No Other Gods Study

No Other Gods Bible Study

This is the 1st introspective study I have done in a while and boy do I need it. Nothing like a few passages of Scripture and pointed questions to make you take an honest look at yourself..

I met with friends from elementary/junior high/high school for dinner Sunday night. As we laughed and discussed the state of the world, I joked I could bring up repressed memories from our days at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School. All I had to say was milk room and Henri Irvington, for a moment they felt nauseous because the milk room always smelled like sour milk and then they laughed because Mr. Irvington was 1 strict math teacher who had a penchant for catching freshmen girls reading romance novels in his class instead of working quadratic equations. He would sneak up and snatch the book out or your hands and turn to the last page and read it out loud. We would be red with embarrassment. He returned the book at the end of the school year. (I always wondered if he read them.)

Sometimes an idol sneaks up on us and we don’t even know it. The idol can be something which starts out good and turns into an idol. It takes exposure at the risk of a red face to bring us to repentance. It takes us admitting we have an idol or idols in our life and truly turning away from them with a broken and contrite heart. We must ask the Holy Spirit to convict us regarding the idols in our life. This is what the Bible has to say about repentance:

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

I pray I continue to cast the idols out of my life and truly repent. I want the Lord to be to restore me so that I may serve Him. I want the Lord to dine with me some day. I bet the conversation will be very interesting. I want Him to tell me about placing all the stars in the universe. I want Him to tell me about Eden when it was created. I want to know if I led anyone to Christ during a healing weekend or an encounter on the street. Did I speak His words? I want to know if He laughed when the snake got loose in my desk during Mrs. Shaw’s math class? Did He laugh when the headmaster Mr. Walters laughed until he cried when the snake got loose in his office? And though I talk to Him in prayer through out the day, I want to thank Him in person for the times He protected me from evil and He carried me in His arms during a family crisis. I also want to thank Him for my special rock in CO on the banks of the Rio Grande in my parents’ old backyard. I spent a lot of time fishing from that rock as well as reading and praying I miss that rock, but am glad for the time I had it and glad for the time I had with the Rock while I sat on it in the midst of His majestic creation.

If you are not doing the No Other Gods study, ask the Lord to reveal any idols you may have in your life. Repent. You will feel better right away, you will feel closer to the Lord, His word will be more clear.

This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it!